Rubber-dam holder



No. 750,695. PATBNTED JAN-26, 1904. A. J. PRICE.

RUBBER DAM HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 26, 1904.

ANDREW J. PRICE, OF DOBSON, MISSISSIPPI.

RUBBER-DAM HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,695, dated January 26, 1904.

Application filed April 28, 1903.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dobson, in the county of Rankin and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rubber-Dam Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rubber-dam holders, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which is reliable in action and simple and inexpensive in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and its novel features will be defined by the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a piece of sheet-rubber stretched upon the transverse arms of the face-plates, this being the arrangement of the rubber when operating upon posterior teeth. Fig. 2 shows the method of pinching the rubber into the slots of the face-plates when operating upon anterior teeth and when it is desired to avoid covering entirely the mouth of the patient, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a face-plate constructed in accordance with my invention.

The improved rubber-dam holder comprises a pair of face-plates upon which the sheet of rubber is stretched, a suitable strap or band for attaching said face-plates and rubber adjacent to the mouth of a patient, and any suitable means for regulating the length of said band or strap. 7

My invention resides particularly in the shape and construction of the face-plates, which 1 will now describe, it being understood, of course, that the two plates are identical with each other.

Each of the face plates is preferably stamped from a single piece of sheet metal, and consists of a body portion 1, having a transversely-cxtending slot 2 across its lower end to receive the strap or band by which it is attached to thehead of the patient. Above the transversely-extending slot 2 the body portion 1 is provided with a cut-away portion 3, which terminates or merges at its upper end into a vertically-extending slot 4, the

Serial No.154,709. (No model.)

walls of which converge toward each other at their upper ends, as shown, to adapt it to exert a pinching or retaining action on sheetrubber or any other material which may be inserted therein, as will be hereinafter described.

On each of its sides the body portion 1 is provided with a transversely-extending arm 5, the outer end of which is rounded ofi and curved down, as shown. The two face-plates are connected to each other by a strap or band 6, the length or adjustment of which is controlled by any suitable form of clasp 7.

The method of employing my improved holder will be readily understood from the foregoing description and the illustration of the drawings. The piece of sheet-rubber is stretched over the transversely extending arms of each face plate, the rounded and curved end of each arm firmly holding the rubber material without danger of tearing or puncturing the same. The rubber material while stretched upon the face-plates is placed over the mouth of the patient, one of the face-places resting on each cheek, and the strap or band is then adjusted about the head of the patient to firmly retain the rubber material and face-plates in position.

If it is desirable to avoid covering the entire mouth of the patient and it is only necessary to fill or operate upon one of the anterior teeth, the rubber fabric instead of being stretched upon the transversely-extending arms of the face-plates is pinched or tightly fitted at each end into the vertically-extending slot L in each of the face plates, or the rubber may be stretched upon the transversely extending arms of one face-plate and pinched into the vertically-extending slot of the other to suit the conditions of the particular operation being performed.

It will be observed that when the rubber material is stretched upon the face-plates and said face-plates are retained in position upon the cheeks of the patient by the retainingstrap 6 the outer ends of the transversely-extending arms on each faceplate are curved away from those on the opposite face-plate, so that the outer curved end of each arm is caused to extend or bite into the rubber material and prevent said material from slipping or becoming disengaged. Furthermore, it will be observed that each of the face-plates, with its cut-away portion 1 and slots 2 and 3, is adapted to, be stamped from sheet metal at a single operation. The device is therefore simple and inexpensive in construction.

If desired, each of the plate-faces may be curved or given any desired shape to closely fit the cheek of the patient.

Having thus described my invention, what action on material inserted thereinto, and a pair of transversely-extending arms on said body portion, the outer end of each arm being rounded and curved off at an angle to said arm.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a rubber-dam holder stamped from a single piece of sheet metal, said holder comprising a body portion having a transversely-extending slot near its lower end to receive a strap and having an interior cut-away portion terminating at its upper end in a slot adapted to exert a pinching action on material inserted therein, and a pair of oppositely-disposed, transverselyextending arms on said body portion, the outer end of each arm being rounded and curved off at an angle to said arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. PRICE. Vitnesses:

W. E. GRANT, MoGARvnY TATE. 

